Quality Assurance of Precision Optics

Course Description:

This course, provided by the National Center for Optics and Photonics Education, covers quality assurance of precision optics. This standards-base course "provides an introduction to quality assurance practices required to identify, inspect, and measure optical components." This course can be used as an introduction for an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) program in precision optics fabrication, as an elective in an AAS laser electro-optics program, and for updating the skills of engineering technicians who are already employed. 

Course Contents:

This collection includes a 173-page textbook and two .zip attachments of related videos, images, and figures. The book includes instructional modules that are "designed for use by students and instructors involved in the preparation of technicians in the area of precision optics for fabrication and photonics." The following three modules are included: Fabrication of Precision Optics, Characterization of Optical Materials and Precision Optics, and Specifications and Drawings for Precision Optics. Modules include basic concepts, laboratories, problem exercises and questions, and more. 

The Quality Assurance of Precision Optics Lab Activity Videos (9).zip attachment includes nine videos. These videos correspond to the laboratory activities in the textbook. Video topics include shadowgraphs for striae, cracks, and inclusions; coating check; common gratings; refraction metrology; optical shop tool fundamentals; focal length determination by a telescope; and more. Videos run from 03:26 to 05:29 minutes in length. 

The QAPO-Figures-and-Images.zip attachment includes all of the figures and images from the textbook in PDF and PowerPoint format. Three PDFs and three PowerPoint files are included. 

Below is a list of the files in each zip attachment. The size of each file is included in parenthesis. 

Quality Assurance of Precision Optics Lab Activity Videos (9) (11 files, 534 MB)

• Shadowgraphs for Striae Cracks and Inclusions (OP-TEC_QAPO_Lab_1-A_Shadowgraphs_for_Striae_Cracks_and_Inclusions.mp4  27.7 MB)
• Coating Check (OP-TEC_QAPO_Lab_1-B_Coating_Check.mp4 85.9 MB)
• Common Gratings (OP-TEC_QAPO_Lab_1-C_Common_Gratings.mp4 92.1 MB)
• Refraction Metrology (OP-TEC_QAPO_Lab_2-A_Refraction_Metrology.mp4 82.6 MB)
• Optical Shop Tool Fundamentals (OP-TEC_QAPO_Lab_2-B_Optical_Shop_Tool_Fundamentals.mp4 67.6 MB)
• Focal Length Determination by Telescope (OP-TEC_QAPO_Lab_2-C_Focal_Length_Determination_by_Telescope.mp4 33.2 MB)
• Polarimetry (OP-TEC_QAPO_Lab_3-A_Polarimetry.mp4 47.5 MB)
• Under the Hood (OP-TEC_QAPO_Lab_3-B_Under_the_Hood.mp4 60.8 MB)
• Interferometry (OP-TEC_QAPO_Lab_3-C_Interferometry.mp4 40.4 MB)
• (Thumbs.db 84 KB)

QAPO Figures and Images (7 files, 10.2 MB )

• Module 1 Fabrication of Precision Optics (QAPO_Figures_and_Images_for_ Instructors_Module_1_Fabrication_of_Precision_Optics.pdf 25.7 MB)
• Module 1 Fabrication of Precision Optics (QAPO_Figures_and_Images_for_ Instructors_Module_1_Fabrication_of_Precision_Optics.pptx 10 MB)
• Module 2 Characterization of Optical Materials (QAPO_Figures_and_Images_for_Instructors_Module_2_Characterization_of_Optical_Materials.pdf 4.3 MB)
• Module 2 Characterization of Optical Materials QAPO_Figures_and_Images_for_Instructors_Module_2_Characterization_of_Optical_Materials.pptx  16.7 MB)
• Module 3 Specifications and Drawings for Precision Optics (QAPO_Figures_and_Images_for_Instructors_Module_3_Specifications_and_Drawings_for_Precision_Optics.pdf 1.5 MB)
• Module 3 Specifications and Drawings for Precision Optics (QAPO_Figures_and_Images_for_Instructors_Module_3_Specifications_and_Drawings_for_Precision_Optics.pptx 12 MB)